Press arm

ABSTRACT

An exercise gymnasium is composed of a frame assembly, a movable pivot arm assembly carried by the frame assembly, and a press arm assembly carried by the pivot arm assembly. The press arm assembly includes an inverted U-press arm that includes a pair of press arms and is rotationally attached to the pivot arm. A pair of handles for hand grasping by a user is provided. Each of the press arms carries a track assembly affixed to the handles. Movement of hte handles is restricted to vertical movement by the track assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to so-called “home gyms” and more particularly to the press arm assembly of such home gyms.

Home gyms are machines that combine several weight lifting or exercise regimens into a single apparatus. They are intended to permit an individual to engage in a multiple of exercise regimens that otherwise require numerous machines at a commercial gym or exercise facility; yet, can be accomplished at home using a single apparatus.

One of the components of a home gym is a “press arm”, which permits the user to press a weight or resistive force with their arms in a weight lifting press movement. Press arms can be arranged to permit the user to recline on the back for a bench press, stand for an arm press, or be seated with or without a back support for an arm press exercise.

Prior home gym press arms operate in an arcuate motion, which does not simulate free weight press movement. Also, home gym press arms do not pivot to also simulate the natural balancing movement of free weight presses. The present invention addresses such shortcomings of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise gymnasium is composed of a frame assembly, a movable pivot arm assembly carried by the frame assembly, and a press arm assembly carried by the pivot arm assembly. The press arm assembly includes an inverted U-press arm that includes a pair of press arms and is rotationally attached to the pivot arm. A pair of handles for hand grasping by a user is provided. Each of the press arms carries a track assembly affixed to the handles. Movement of the handles is restricted to vertical movement by the track assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise gym that includes the novel press arm assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the press arm assembly showing its rotational movement ability;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the press arm assembly showing effective vertical movement about its rotational connection to a pivot arm;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivotal connection of the press arm assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side view into one of the press arms showing the adjustability of the handles and their connection to the press arm;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pull pop pin assembly that permits the press arm assembly to freely rotate back and forth or lock into place to eliminate the ability of the press arm to rotate;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is perspective view of alternative construction of the press arm assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exercise station or assembly, 10, includes several exercise stations so that a user can perform several exercise regimens. A leg lift assembly, 12, is one of those exercise stations, as is a press arm assembly, 14, and a lat pull down assembly 16. The number and location of such exercise stations/assemblies can be varied in location, number, and function, for purposes of the present invention. The press arm assembly/station, however, is the subject of the present invention.

One or more cable assemblies (not shown) connect press arm assembly 14 to a source of resistance, be it weights, flexible springs, or the like. Such source of resistance often is adjustable and is provided in conventional fashion for purposes of the present invention. All of the exercise stations and the source of resistance is carried by and connected to a frame, 22, that includes a base, 24. Again, frame 22 and base 24 are conventional in construction. A bench, 26, with a back, 28, are carried by frame 22 and supported by base 24 and permit the user to sit or recline, for example, to perform a bench press using press arm assembly 14.

A pivot arm, 30, is pivotally connected to the upper end of frame 22 and carries press arm assembly 14. Pivot arm 30 pivots to accommodate movement of press arm assembly 30 when the user performs a bench press exercise. Press arm assembly 14 includes a pair of connected arms, 32 and 34, which form an inverted U-shape. Each arm 32 and 34 retain a handle, 36 and 38, respectively.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, connected arms 32 and 34 or U-arms 32 and 34 are adjustably and pivotally connected to pivot arm assembly 30 preferably by a bearing bushing assembly, 40, which permits U-arms 32 and 34 to rotate as indicated by the arrows and the phantom U-arms shown in FIG. 2. Such rotational movement often occurs when a lifter performs a bench press using free weights. Linear bearing assembly 40 gives the inventive press arm assembly such natural rotational movement. Alternatively, the user can activate a pull pop pin assembly, 41, which permits U-arms 32 and 34 to freely rotate back and forth requiring the user to balance the weight as in free weight lifting (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Use of pull pop pin assembly 41 to eliminate the rotational movement.

Referring now also to FIG. 4, a pin, 41, can be engaged to suppress the ability of U-arms 32 and 34 to rotate and become stationary, should such rotational movement not be desired by the user. Bracket 42 also permits the U-arms 32 and 34 to be adjusted relative to the H-bracket portion of pivot arm assembly 30 (see FIG. 3). Again, these features demonstrate the novel construction of press arm assembly 14.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, U-arms 32 and 34 are seen moving upwardly and downwardly by the arrows, which represents their movement during a bench press exercise by the user of the press arm assembly 14. Such movement results from the pivotal connection of pivot arm 30 to frame 22.

Referring now also to FIGS. 5 and 7, handle 38 is seen carried by a linear bearing or bushing assembly, 46, which is carried by a pair of guide rods, 48 and 50. Handle 38 can be extended to disengage bushing 46 to permit handle 38 to move freely up and down the extent of arm 34 or handle 38 can be pushed inwardly to lock handle 38 into one of several positions as determined by a series of apertures or holes seen carried by arm 34 in FIG. 5. Thus, when the user is performing a bench press exercise, handle 38 can freely move up and down arm 34 or it can fixed in one of several positions. The construction of arm 32 and handle 36 is the same as that described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 7, so that a detailed description is omitted.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a bearing assembly, 52, is seen mounted above the pivot point established by bearing assembly 40 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The location of the bearing assembly, either above or at the pivot point, does not matter in terms of the unique movement of the inventive press arm assembly disclosed herein.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to a bench press exercise, the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate a pull press exercise so that press arm assembly 14 would be moved toward the rear frame support 22 by pulling pop pin 44 requiring the user to sit facing the rear of the machine on seat 26 to perform a pull press by grabbing handles 36 and 38 and pulling toward the front of the machine. Additionally, a free-standing exercise apparatus dedicated only to the bench press exercise performed with press arm assembly 14 could be constructed in accordance with the disclosure set fort herein in addition to the multi-exercise “home gym” described herein and used to illustrate the present invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In this application all units are in the metric system and all amounts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 

1. In an exercise gymnasium of a frame assembly, a movable pivot arm assembly carried by said frame assembly, and a press arm assembly carried by said pivot arm assembly, the improved press arm assembly, which comprises: (a) an inverted U-press arm rotationally attached to said pivot arm, said U-press arm having a pair of press arms; (b) a pair of handles for hand grasping by a user; and (c) each of said press arms carrying a track assembly affixed to said handles, said handles restricted to vertical movement by said track assemblies.
 2. The press arm assembly of claim 1, wherein a bearing assembly rotationally connects said press arm to said pivot arm.
 3. The press arm assembly of claim 1, wherein a stop pin is reversibly movable to suppress said press arm rotational movement.
 4. The press arm assembly of claim 1, wherein said track assembly carries a linear bearing assembly connected to said handles for their vertical movement.
 5. The press arm assembly of claim 1, which further comprises a locking pin activatable to disable the rotation of said U-press arm rotational relative to said pivot arm.
 6. The press arm assembly of claim 1, wherein said handles reversibly lock to said track assembly. 